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Refuges of the European ecological network "Natura 2000"
The Upper Vistula Valley (within the O¶więcim Basin)
The territory with a surface area of 2224 490 ha is situated in the catchment area of the Upper Vistula River and encompasses the Goczałkowice Reservoir together with the fish-farming ponds located to the south of it. On our map, you can see only its little, eastern part in the vicinity of the town of Goczałkowice.
The most characteristic element of the refuge landscape is the biggest artificial lake in southern Poland - the Goczałkowice Reservoir. It was built in 1958 with the aim of providing proper amounts of drinking and industrial water for the Upper Silesia conurbation. The reservoir is excluded from mass recreation (bathing, water sports); only angling on the shore is allowed to a very limited extent and with a permit.
In the refuge of the Upper Vistula Valley at least 29 species of the birds listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive have been noted to occur. Three bird species: the Little Bittern, the Night Heron and the Common Tern meet the requirements for designating bird refuges introduced by BirdLife International. Besides, eight species have been listed in The Polish Red Data Book of Animals as endangered birds.
The Upper Vistula Valley is one of the most important Polish refuges of the night heron. The area has also deep regional significance for the Common Tern, the Little Bittern (Chart 246) and the Whiskered Tern (Chart 247). However, the number of the last species is subject to considerable fluctuations.
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